Air pump



Sept. V29, 1936. l. A. Popp 2,056,018

` AIR PUMP Filed Dc, 4, 1935 Patented Sept. 29, 1936 UNITED. STATESyPATE-Nr ozF FICE AIR PUMP Leonard Alfred Popp, Saugus, Mass.;assignor-to Lawrence E. J ohnson,Melrose,A Mass.

Application December 4, 1935, Serial No. 52,861

12 Claims.

This invention relates to an improvementr in air pumps, moreparticularly to that class of devices which are designed to discharge aquantity of air under pressureinto a plumbing fixture whereby;

. to remove the stoppage therein without the necessity .of dismantling.the fixture.

One object of my invention istto provide newv and improved devices ofthe above character adapted for clearing obstructions or stoppagesinrdrains, toilets, Ywastepipes and the like which will operatewithgreater facility, than lhas obtained in devices of this character asheretofore constructed.

Another object of the invention is to Aprovide a -"'device of thischaracter wherein the pumpingdevice isp-mounted and carried upona-remo'vable, head of an-air pressure reservoir wherebynaccess.A to-thepump and associate mechanism may beA more readily had than has attainedin devices of this character as hitherto constructed.

Another object of the invention is to provide. new andimproved means forreleasing thev compressed air in a device of this character;

Another Aobject of the invention is tofprovide` aH "device of the abovetype which is compactin form,

simple inconstruction, easy to operate and which may be .employed forthe purposesindicated with.

great. efliciency. Y

rA further object of the invention is to provide a device vof 1 thischaracter which may be readily disassembled for cleaning, lubrication orreplacement ofparts.

Other objects and aims of the invention, more Aor less specific thanthose referred to above, will be in part obvious and in part pointedoutin the course ofthe following description of the `elements,combinations, arrangements of parts and application of principles,constitutingthe in vention; and the scope of protection contemplatedwill be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing.. wherein I have,

illustrated preferred embodiments of my invention,

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line yI-Iof Figure ,2.,

ure 2, z

Figure .4 .is .a horizontal sectional view .taken on the line 4-4 ofFigure 3,-.the pressure cap mounted upon the lower endzof .the devicebeing omitted,

Figure 5 is a vertical sectionalV view taken through the lower endofgthe device, rcertainof the parts beingshownin vertical elevation,illustrating the means for releasing the compressed air inthe reservoir,and

Figure 6 is an enlargedysectional `elevation illustrating the checkvalve mechanism.

Referring nowy to the i drawing wherein similar reference characters.refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views thereof, thereference numeral ID denotes an elongated circular casing which forms areservoir for, 4the compressed air and `I I denotes aremovable head'forthe reservoir,; said head beingsecured ,in position byA means of stay ortiel-ods I2." Thesegtie rods,V asshown in;-Fig.ure 3, are screw threadedinto the head, extending Vvertically through the pressure reservoir and/through ahead I4 vrmounted upon the.lower end, of :thercylinder l0;nuts. I3 being g mountedgupon the rods. v:I2 wherebybothof the heads II`and I4 -aresecurely clamped upon thev upper and lower ends of thecylinder It):4 If. desired,suitable gaskets may be. employed v betweentheheads Vand the. ends of the cylinder to insure amant-,tight chamberwithin the cylinder I0.

The reference numeral I5 `denotes an air outlet pipe which-is extendedinto the reservoir, the upper ends of which is provided with a valveseat I6,1adapted to, receive a valve II which is normally .seated on theseat, I6 -to effect a closure of. the outlet' pipe IE5.A

Thisoutlet pipe isv secured to the bottom head l. I4 by any. suitablemeans, in the present instance .Y it is shown as being pressed in.

Theoutlet pipe is .threaded exteriorlyatv its lower-end so asy toreceive a screw threaded sleeve of a cap lIpref-erably formed of rubber,the sleeve of .said cap being adapted to be held in an adjusted positionas by means of the lock-nuts I9 and 20.4

The purpose of the .capl is to effect a seal in.v the opening of the.conduit to be cleared of obstructions. If desired,`the cap I8 may be reversed .for insertion into the. conduit when it is more convenientl to.be employed.- in this manner.`

The air pump shown herein comprises a barrel 2I rgid1y secured totheAhead II in any desired manner and located in the barrel 2| is a pistonAor plunger v22 mounted upon a piston, or a plunger -rod 23 which extendsupwardly through the" the l operating handle v24=.-

The reference numeral 25 denotes a checkvalve preferably of the typeknown as the Schafer valve commonly employed in connection withpneumatic tires. This valve permits air compressed by the action of thepump to be forced into the reservoir at each downward stroke of the pumpplunger, but automatically closes to prevent escape of the air from thereservoir.

Referring now to Figure 6 wherein this checkvalve is shown, said valveincludes the tube 5l) threaded to engage the lower end of the pumpbarrel, a nut 5I securing the tube firmly in position.

The exterior of the tube 50 is counter-bored and tapped to receive thethreaded member 52, having an extension 53 tapered to provide anair-tight connection with a corresponding taperV provided in the tube.

Through the threaded member 52 extendsa loosely fitted stem 54 to whichis rigidly mounted the valve 55 normally resting on the end of theextension 53, the spring 56 resting on a collar 51 abutting the shoulder58 in the tube.

The stem 54 is axially movable in the collar, and the spring yieldinglypressing the valve 55 of its seat.

Compressed air from the pump depresses the valve and the air is forcedthrough the orifice 6U into the reservoir formed by the casing IU, thevalve reseating as the pump plunger moves upwardly. The end of the tube50 is threaded exteriorly to permit the nut 59 to secure the tube rmlyin the stirrup 33.

The outlet pipe I5 is preferably axially aligned with the reservoir andthe pump barrel is preferably axially located with respect to the outletpipe I5. The valve I1, in any event, seats axially with the outlet pipeI5 and is mounted and operated in the following manner:

Slidably mounted upon the pump barrel 2| is a sleeve 26 and rigidlyassociated with the sleeve 26 is the stirrup 21, the valve I1 beingmounted upon a cross member formed upon the lower end of the stirrup.

The valve I1 is loosely mounted on the stirrup so as to permit automaticadjustment to the seat I6 as by means of the screw 28 which passesthrough the valve, the nut 29 and the Washer 30 securing the valvethereto. ing through the cross-member 3| of the stirrup 21 bottoms inthe nut 32, thereby permitting a slight play of the valve I1 withrespect to the seat I6.

Extending from the end of the pump barrel 2| is a second stirrup 33hereinbefore mentioned, through which the check-valve extends as hasalready been described.

The U shaped lever 34 passes between the end of the sleeve 26 and insideof the bottom member of the stirrup 33. Abutting the stirrup 33 andreacting on the stirrup 31 in which the valve I1 is mounted is thehelical spring 35 which operates normally to seat the valve I1 on theend of the outlet pipe I5 and engage the sleeve 26 and the stirrup 33with opposite edges of the U shaped lever 34. The free arms of thislever are extended and the stem 36 is swivelled thereto at 31 by meansof the cotter pin 38.

The stem 36 extends through the head Il, the gland 39 and packing 40providing against air leakage from the reservoir.

The button 4I on the end of the stem 36 facilitates the raising of thevalve I1 from its seat to release compressed air from the reservoir.

Referring to Figure 5, it will be seen that the The screw 28 passvalveI1 may be raised from its seat either by pulling action on the button 4Ias indicated at A, or by pressing the button downwardly as indicated inthe dotted lines B. In either case the U shaped lever 34 fulcrums on thecrossbar of the stirrup 33 to lift the sleeve 26.

By means of the construction shown and described, the valve I1 isquickly raised from its seat so that the accumulated air in the cylinderis instantly released and discharged through the seal provided by thecap I8 in the conduit containing the obstruction which is to be removed.

The orifice 42 in the head II admits air into the pump barrel as theplunger thereof is forced downwardly and a pressure indicator 43 ismounted upon the head II and is in communication with the air of thereservoir within the cylinder I0 through the conduit 44.

In using my improved device, it is desirable to insert the cup I8 eitherin the position shown in the drawing or in a reversed position ashereinbefore described, in the mouth of the conduit containing theobstruction. It is desirable that the space within the conduit below thecup be lled with water which is, of course, usually the case unless theobstruction permits a slow seepage of water through the conduit. If thisseepage occurs, the conduit should be refilled with water below the cupand the cup itself should be emersed in water above the edge which formsthe seal in the conduit from which the obstruction is to be removed.

Inasmuch as water is not compressible, the sudden release of thecompressed air in the reservoir acts as a water hammer or ram to permita sudden blow to the obstruction, the force of said blow beingdetermined by the amount of air pressure accumulated within thereservoir. Thus the stoppage is removed instantly and completely withoutdamage to the trap, pipes or other ttings.

The sudden release of the air pressure as above described is affected bymerely compressing or raising the rod 26 through the instrumentality ofthe button 4I It will accordingly be seen that I have provided aconstruction Well adapted to attain, among others, all the ends andobjects above set forth in a most facile manner.

As many changes could be made in this construction without departingfrom the scope of the following claims, it is intended that all mattercontained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawingshall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an air pump having an enclosing reservoir provided with an outlet,and operative from the exterior of the reservoir, and including a barreland a check valve operative to admit compressed air to the reservoir, incombination therewith, a member slidable on the pump barrel; a valvesecured thereto and adapted to close the outlet from the reservoir; aprojection from the pump barrel; a spring abutting the projection andreacting on the valve to close the outlet from the reservoir; and meansoperative from the exterior of the reservoir to move the slidable memberon the pump barrel to uncover the outlet from the reservoir.

2. In an air pump of the character described in claim 1, the operatingmeans being adapted to move the slidable member axially on the pumpbarrel.

3. In a pump of the character described in claim 1, the means for movingthe sliding member including a lever engaging the slidable member andthe abutment on opposite edges, and adapted to swing on the abutment.

4. In a pump of the character described in claim 1, the means for movingthe slidable member including a lever engaging the slidable member andthe abutment on opposite edges, and adapted to swing on the abutment; astem connected to the lever, projecting through the head of thereservoir and movable axially thereof.

5. An air pump having an enclosing reservoir provided with an outlet anda removable head, the pump being mounted on the removable head andincluding a pump barrel and a check valve operative to admit compressedair to the reservoir; a sleeve slidable on the barrel; a valve securedthereto and adapted to close the outlet from the reservoir; a stirrupdepending from the pump barrel; a lever extending through the stirrupand engaging the stirrup and the sleeve on opposite edges; a springabutting the stirrup and reacting on the valve to seat it over theoutlet from the reservoir; a stem connected to the lever and extendingthrough the head of the reservoir, and adapted to swing the lever withinthe stirrup and move the sleeve axially on the barrel and uncover theoutlet from the reservoir by any axial movement of the stem.

6. An air pump of the character described in claim 5, in which theoutlet from the reservoir is axially aligned with the pump barrel.

7. A pump of the character described in claim 5, in which the sleeve,the lever and the valve may be removed by disconnecting the operatingstem for the lever.

8. A pump of the character described in claim 5, in which the securingmeans for the closure valve permit automatic adjustment of the valve toits seat.

9. A pump of the character described in claim 5, in which the securingmeans for the closure valve include a stem rigid with the valve andmovably secured in a dependent member integral with the sleeve,permitting automatic adjustment of the valve to its seat.

10. A device of the class described for removing obstructions inplumbing iixtures comprising a circular casing forming an air pressurereservoir, a head clamped to the upper end of said casing, a pump barrelcentrally located with respect to said casing and carried by said head,a plunger transversing said pump barrel, an operating rod attached tosaid plunger and extending outwardly through said head, a check valve insaid pump barrel for admitting air to said pressure chamber, a, headsecured to the lower end of said casing, an air exit pipe extendingthrough said last named head, the upper end of said pipe having a valveseat, a valve slidably supported upon said pump barrel cooperating withsaid valve seat and spring pressed thereagainst, a rod associated withsaid spring for opening and closing said last named valve, said rodextending upwardly through said pressure chamber and through the headclamped to the upper end of said casing, and said last named valve, saidcheck valve and said pump barrel having their central axes located inthe same plane.

1l. A device of the class described for removing obstructions fromplumbing fixtures by the use of compressed air comprising a circularcasing forming an air pressure reservoir, heads clamped respectively tothe upper and lower ends of said casing so as to form an air-tightenclosure, a pump barrel supported by said uppermost head and extendingdownwardly through said casing and centrally located with respectthereto, a plunger located in said casing, having an operating rodextending upwardly through said uppermost head and having an operatinghandle at its upper end, a check valve located beneath said plunger foradmitting air into said reservoir, a pipe extending through saidlowermost head having a valve seat, a valve co-operating with said valveseat, a sleeve slidably mounted upon said pump barrel, a spring intereposed between said sleeve and said last mentioned valve, a leverassociated with said sleeve to raise and lower the same whereby to openand close said last named valve and an operating rod connected with saidlever and extending upwardly through the head mounted upon the upper endof said casing.

12. A device of the class described for removing obstructions by airpressure from plumbing fixtures, comprising a cylindrical casing havingheads clamped to each end thereof to form an air pressure reservoir, apump barrel supported from the uppermost of said heads, a plunger insaid pumpv barrel, an operating rod extending downwardly through saiduppermost head and connected with said plunger, a check valve locatedbeneath said plunger for admitting air from the pump barrel to saidreservoir, a pipe extending through said lowermost head provided with avalve seat at its upper end, a valve cooperating with said valve seatwhereby to open and close said communication with said air pressurereservoir and said pipe, a sleeve slidably mounted upon said pumpbarrel, a coil spring extending between said last named valve andsupported by said sleeve, a lever connected with said sleeve, anoperating rod connected with said lever and extending upwardly throughthe uppermost of said heads, the connection between said lever and saidsleeve being such that either a downward movement of said operating rodor an upward movement thereof will cause said lever to raise said sleevewhereby to open said last named valve, a rubber cup mounted upon thelower end of said air exit pipe and said exit pipe, said valves and saidpump barrel having their several axes in direct alignment.

LEONARD ALFRED POPP.

